Good morning, Quartz readers!
Here’s what you need to know
The US releases its second-quarter GDP figures. Analysts estimate that the economy shrank as much as 35% because of the pandemic. Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell said yesterday that the pace of economic recovery is slowing down as cases continue to surge.
US states are still breaking records for Covid-related deaths. According to Reuters, California, Florida, and Texas all had their highest numbers of fatalities in a single day on Wednesday. There are more problems ahead: many Americans are afraid of vaccines.
The EU updates its safe-country travel list. Visitors from the US still won’t be allowed in. New countries added to the list include Australia and Canada, while China’s inclusion rests on reciprocal access being granted to Europeans.
The NBA returns. The 2020-21 season finally resumes in the league’s Disney World bubble, with the Utah Jazz facing the New Orleans Pelicans. There will be up to seven games a day, and although there is a barbershop and a lake for fishing, players can’t go on the rides in their downtime.
Big Tech testified before the US Congress.Representatives, not always the most tech savvy, asked Amazon, Alphabet, Facebook, and Apple’s CEOs five actually smart questions in the antitrust hearing, although the whole thing was a terrible ad for WebEx. All of these companies report quarterly earnings today.
NASA launches its new Mars rover. Car-sized Perseverance is set to lift off from Florida and spend the next few years exploring and looking for signs of life on Jezero, an area of the Red Planet that once had a lake and a river delta.
The great re-scheduling
Covid-19 is wreaking havoc on trade, immigration, and tourism. Here’s what we’re tracking now:
- 🇸🇦 An exceptionally small Hajj begins. Saudi Arabia has effectively canceled this year’s Muslim pilgrimage. That’s bad news for Somali ranchers.
- 🇮🇳 Not many travelers in India either. The country’s pandemic tourism slump is putting over 85 million jobs at risk.
- 🇺🇸 And Indians are throwing in the flag. Despite waiting for years, many are giving up their green card dreams (✦ Quartz membership exclusive).
Charting the unexpected computer boom
The last thing the personal computer industry expected was a sales boost in 2020. Global computer sales shot up last quarter by 11% to 72.3 million, according to preliminary estimates from IDC, a global market research company. The jump was even higher in the US.
In a normal year, computer sales don’t swing by more than 5% to 7%, according to Jeriel Ong, an equity research analyst at Deutsche Bank.
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For members: Keeping your mind on your money
Ah, the paradox of choice! While the internet is granting people access to more financial tools and expertise than ever, it can become overwhelming to figure out which voices are worthwhile. But Quartz has the financial health of Future You in mind—our Mindful Money series provides solid advice from experts we trust.
Here are just a few topics we tackle:
Considering calling it quits? This 20-year-old book has helped many take that leap.
Pondering a robo-adviser? The right one could make investing a lot less intimidating.
Ready to pop the question? It really is possible to talk to your partner about money, without fighting.
Wondering if a cult favorite financial app is worth the price of admission? We had the same question about You Need a Budget.
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We’re obsessed with coffee makers
Pouring a cup of productivity. For many of us, popping by the local coffee shop or taking advantage of office joe is out of the question right now, so we’re spending a lot more time and jittery energy looking at how we make the stuff at home. The ways in which coffee drinkers get their fix have changed a lot over the years, from steeping ground beans in linen bags back in the 1700s all the way to the highly controversial Keurig—a device now rued by its own inventor. But the link between coffee consumption and Getting Stuff Done remains undefeated. Brew a fresh pot, you’ve got a Quartz Weekly Obsession to read.
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Surprising discoveries
The UK’s prime minister is hiring a coronavirus spokesperson. Boris Johnson needs someone to front new televised press briefings.
Hong Kong needs more space to quarantine pets. A new facility is opening to house everything from dogs to chinchillas.
Australian scientists keep naming bugs and plants after Marvel characters. The latest addition to the series is a fly that resembles Deadpool.
The mystery of Stonehenge’s boulders may have been solved. Scientists traced the origins of the huge rocks to a site 25 km (16 miles) away, though it’s still unclear how they were transported.
Facebook may be bringing fun back to the internet. Its new product, E.gg, lets users create canvases that recapture the spirit of sites like GeoCities and MySpace.
Our best wishes for a productive day. Please send any news, comments, bugs that look like Ryan Reynolds, and hamsters out of quarantine to hi@qz.com. Get the most out of Quartz by downloading our app on iOS and becoming a member. Today’s Daily Brief was brought to you by Hasit Shah, Susan Howson, and Max Lockie.